Nelson sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Nelsen, Kelson, and Welson are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nelson's English-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"son of Neil, son of the champion"
"God is my judge"
"from the roe deer land"
"nobleman, duke"
"the bear"
"poet, bard"
"soldier"
"land of lochs, land of fjords"
"mind, intellect, spirit"
"great tide, son of the sea"
"dark-complexioned son"
"to run fast, a burst of speed"
"dark-skinned, Moorish"
"son of Jack"
"lives near a bridge"
"illustrious through nobility"
"group, band, team"
"famous spear"
"from the western settlement"
"brook, small stream"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nelson — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have English origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nelson.
Rhythm: Nelson is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.